Heart Failure Risk before and after Kidney Transplantation: Importance of Body Mass Index

Abstract

Introduction: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is common among patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney transplantation (KT) may reduce cardiac complications of kidney failure in the long-term. We assessed whether CHF risk before and after renal allograft surgery varies with candidate body mass index (BMI). Data source: U.S. Renal Data System (USRDS) data for KT candidates (1995–2004) with Medicare insurance and BMI data at listing. Methods: CHF diagnoses after listing were ascertained from Medicare billing records per a USRDS claims algorithm.